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Memories of Mr Viji Hensman
Aseem Tiwari
I first met 'Henny' on 23 January 1972. It was my first day at school and obviously I was nervous and a bit out of place in the new surroundings. The 'dame', Mrs Hine was taking stock of my clothes as a tall dark bespectacled gentleman strode up from behind with an outstretched hand..." good morning, my name is Hensman, I am your housemaster". I just offered my hand very shyly...."good morning".
Henny for me was a conservative influence. Something that makes me look up to a teacher. I was an average student with a bit of musical and dramatic inclinations. Henny spotted these and encouraged me. Exposure on stage, the music school, photography and singing for Henny's choir were some of my memorable experiences at Chand Bagh. But he never spoke about his appreciation of my efforts directly to me. I would learn about it from other 'guys' with whom he would share his thoughts about my efforts at debating, drama, singing . These appear small things now, but they meant so much then.
The most touching encounter with Henny was when he tried to convince me to take "Rustam and Sohrab" and "Michael" in poetic form seriously, as this would give me extra options to chose from while answering my literature questions in the final year. When he found that I was not sufficiently convinced, he said something that has stayed with me to this day. He said.." aseem you understand music, you sing, you act, you have an artiste in you, you must be able to appreciate poetry better than some of your other classmates". I will never forget that moment. It is ever so fresh. Henny had summed up what he thought of me. I was elated.
It has been 28 years since. Henny's body is gone. His words are alive . They give me company when no one is around. Henny probably spoke to numerous boys in an encouraging way to get the best out of them. I may be one of them. But there was only one Henny -- my Housemaster. The sad thing is that I never was able to tell him that he had unknowingly replaced my father when I was in school.
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